Type keyword(s) to search

News

Stranger Things Editors Are Still Tweaking Season 4 Visual Effects

The Duffer Brothers want the visual effects in the show to be as perfect as possible.
  • Finn Wolfhard and Millie Bobby Brown in Stranger Things (Photo: Netflix)
    Finn Wolfhard and Millie Bobby Brown in Stranger Things (Photo: Netflix)

    It's no secret that Netflix's Stranger Things is a visual effects-heavy show, particularly in its latest season. In fact, the Season 4 finale featured more visual effect shots than all of Season 3 combined. So many, said series editor Dean Zimmerman, that his team is still working on visual effects for Season 4 weeks after its release.

    Speaking during a Microsoft Production Summit panel, Zimmerman revealed that a heavy workload, scheduling conflicts, and staffing issues resulted in the Stranger Things 4 editors losing eight weeks of time.

    Zimmerman said meeting the season's demands was "very challenging and difficult," adding, "Netflix was creating a lot of stress and anxiety with just, 'How are we going to get the shots finished to release the show?'"

    The answer? They didn't. Although Stranger Things Season 4 premiered on time, editors are still working on visual effects behind the scenes in order to make every shot perfect.

    "There are some shots that were fine, you wouldn't notice the issues," he said. "But the Duffer Brothers, just for archive purposes, want to replace them. So we're still uploading shots. It's all about the details for them."

    Despite the extra work, Zimmerman is happy overall, saying, "It was a very challenging season, but the reward of it was so worth it."

    The visual effects artists aren't the only editors working overtime to perfect Stranger Things. Earlier this week, fans noticed that certain episodes have been re-edited, including a Season 1 scene in which Jonathan Byers (Charlie Heaton) photographs Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer) while undressing. Fans claimed the edit was made as part of an effort to make Jonathan seem "less creepy."

    Stranger Things Season 4 is currently streaming on Netflix.

    People are talking about Stranger Things in our forums. Join the conversation.

    Kirstie Renae is a writer, blogger, and Austin-based actress with a penchant for binge-watching TV with her dogs. Follow her on Twitter @KirstieRenae.

    TOPICS: Stranger Things, Netflix, Charlie Heaton, Natalia Dyer, Duffer Brothers, Streaming TV, Visual Effects